This year is a big one for health equity and the policy discussion.
It is a milestone anniversary year for steps to improve parity and access in communities of color, marked by the 50th anniversary of President Lyndon B. Johnson signing Medicare and Medicaid into law this summer.
As we enter the first full year of implementation of the Affordable Care Act, the U.S. Census Bureau reports that the number of Americans with insurance coverage rose from 8 million in 2013 to 33 million last year. The numbers of African Americans who had health care coverage rose by four percent.
The big question is does policy really move the needle in improving health outcomes for people of color. The jury is out.
